Calypso
Orchids are quite difficult to spot among the other plant life of the
forest floor. The Orchids are very slender, have only one basal leaf, and although
the plants do sometimes occur in patches by the dozens, they often grow singly and scattered. Calypso bulbosa's marvelous symmetry,
contrasting magentas, whites, yellows, and purples, and overall delicate
flamboyance are haunting and make this species a favorite of many plant lovers.

Sepals and petals combine various shades of pink, violet, white, and even creamy orange.

The second photo at left shows Calypso bulbosa in bud, just a few days before bursting open in beauty.

The photographs immediately below show that basal leaves from the moist winter and spring of 2016 are a turgid, chlorophyll rich green but those following the drought winter and spring of 2012 are a flaccid, chlorophyll starved yellow/green.

This wonderful Orchid
is found in all Western U. S. states and along the northern tier of
states as one heads East. It is also found in Eurasia and was
first collected in Siberia. In 1753 it was described by Linnaeus
who named it Cypripedium bulbosum. William Oakes
(1799-1848) renamed it Calypso
bulbosa in 1842.

A number of photographs on this page were taken in Montezuma County, Colorado, and they constitute new records for that county.

Calypso, the daughter
of Atlas, lived a solitary life on an island where she made life very
sweet for the occasional sailor washed up on her shores.

Species present in state and nativeSpecies present in state and exoticSpecies not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rareSpecies present and rareSpecies extirpated (historic)Species extinctSpecies noxiousSpecies exotic and presentNative species, but adventive in stateEradicatedQuestionable presence